Publication: A Gender (R)evolution in the Making? Expanding Women's Economic Opportunities in Central America : A Decade in Review
Date
2012-01
ISSN
Published
2012-01
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
A Gender Revolution in the Making was
produced by the World Bank as a special report on the
dichotomy of the economic participation of women in Central
America from 1997-2007. Central America made considerable
progress during 1997-2006: stronger economic and political
stability, overall positive albeit modest economic growth
and improvements in socio-economic outcomes. Nonetheless,
the panorama for women in the region, and in particular
their ability to work and generate income is mixed. Labor
force participation of women in Central America remained
unchanged over the decade, with one in every two women of
working age still not participating economically. This is
lower than the rest of Latin America, a region with the
lowest labor force participation in the world, although it
has improved significantly in recent years. And yet, women
in the region have made major advances in closing the gender
earnings gaps and increasing their ability to earn income.
Women's contribution to overall income generation in
Central America rose significantly over the decade. This
report aims to identify the factors behind these three
trends. However, stagnant labor force participation rates
for women contrasted with narrowing earnings gaps and a
greater contribution to overall income apparent in Central
America from 1997 to 2006.
Citation
“World Bank. 2012. A Gender (R)evolution in the Making? Expanding Women's Economic Opportunities in Central America : A Decade in Review. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/552ecbbd-d524-57c0-a640-009b2364cf56 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”